Get the latest news to your email inbox FREE!

REGISTER

Get the latest news to your email inbox FREE!

REGISTER
HomeSportGeelong closes in on finals berth

Geelong closes in on finals berth

Geelong remains in fourth place on the Victorian Premier Cricket ladder after rain caused matches to be abandoned across the league last Saturday.

The Cats had been cruising on 2/108 off 29.5 overs against Prahran before rain halted play.

Captain Eamonn Vines made 33, combining with Hayden Butterworth for a 68-run first-wicket stand.

Following Vines’ dismissal, Josh McDonald made nine before being stumped with the Cats at 2/83.

Butterworth finished on 50*, his second half-century of the season and an improvement on his 31-run contribution the previous weekend.

The left-hander has been handy with both bat and ball at times this season, averaging 26 and taking 18 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 25.9.

Thomas Jackson made 11* before the stop of play. Rain halted games across the league, meaning all teams remained in their current ladder positions.

With eight points separating Geelong and ninth-placed Melbourne University, the Cats are likely to make the finals with two games remaining.

The Cats would guarantee themselves a finals berth with a win away against Fitzroy Doncaster on Saturday, after the disappointment of missing out the previous season.

But Lions opener Jack Rudd has been dangerous with the bat, making three centuries this season.

Young Fitzroy captain and all-rounder Ejaaz Alavi has batted and bowled well, averaging 32.4 and taking 21 wickets at 20.1 apiece.

If the Cats can dismiss Rudd early and navigate the left-arm spin of Alavi, that will go a long way towards booking their place in the finals.

Geelong will have a second chance to guarantee finals entry when they take on eighth-placed Northcote at Kardinia Park in the final round of the season.

Two wins will clinch Geelong a top-four spot, which would normally mean a second chance in the finals.

But following the late start to the season due to COVID-19, the teams instead voted for a knockout-style final series this year.

The teams will face off according to their ladder position, with first playing eighth, second playing seventh and so on.

The winning four teams will then face off in two preliminary finals for a chance to play for the premiership.

Digital Edition
Subscribe

Get an all ACCESS PASS to the News and your Digital Edition with an online subscription

Rooke leads Dragons to huge win

Bell Park's Hannah Rooke had an outstanding all-round A Grade game in round 10 of Geelong Cricket Association senior women's competition. Rooke took the incredible...

Cheers to Beer Fest

Around the grounds

More News

Cheers to Beer Fest

Another year for the Geelong Beer Festival at Johnstone Park with drinks, food and entertainment the order of the day. Independent photographer Ivan Kemp...

Around the grounds

Independent photographer Ivan Kemp went to Hamlyn Park for the Bell Park vs Bell Post Hill GCA2 game and to Ray Menzies Oval for...

Great outdoors comes to town

Geelong Showgrounds was the scene for the Geelong Outdoor Living and Caravan Expo last weekend and Independent photographer Ivan Kemp went along on Saturday.

Rising Star wins Vic Open

Rising Australian star Cameron John has claimed a bucket-list victory in the men's Vic Open in the most dramatic of circumstances by running down...

January a great month for Bellarine dining

January on the Bellarine Peninsula is a month defined by long days, salty air and an appetite sharpened by sun and sea. With holidaymakers...

Blending the old and the new

A new evolution of circus arrives this month, blending humour and heart with world-class physical artistry and theatrical magic. Featuring a full lineup of acrobats,...

Concerns over AI safety

The eSafety Commissioner is sounding the alarm over the use of the generative artificial intelligence system known as Grok on the social media platform...

Dumping infuriating

There is absolutely no excuse for the illegal dumping of rubbish in Greater Geelong. Late last year, a significant pile of rubbish abandoned on Point...

Happy place Bermagui getaway

After Christmas I had a quick trip to my happy place - Bermagui in NSW. I usually don’t go to the NSW coast in the...

BYD Shark is coming for you

It’s BYD's Shark and it's coming for you. At least it is if you're in the market for a ute because the Shark, or Shark...